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Vendetta apparently drove nightclub killer

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- The gunman who killed "Dimebag Darrell" Abbott and three others at an Ohio concert reportedly blamed the guitarist for breaking up his favorite band, Pantera.

Nathan Gale, 25, jumped onto the stage Wednesday at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus and shot Abbott as he and his new band, Damageplan, were performing.

Screaming, "You broke up Pantera," Gale fired five shots into Abbott, 38, witnesses told the New York Daily News Friday. He also killed a bodyguard and two fans before a police officer killed him with a single shot.

Abbott and his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, were original members of Pantera, one of the most popular metal bands in the 1990s. Conflicts with singer Phil Anselmo, though, drove the Abbott brothers to leave Pantera last year and form Damageplan.

Gale, who idolized Anselmo and memorized Pantera's dark lyrics, was apparently bitter about the demise of his favorite group, the Daily News said.

Pop star's feet cause a stink

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Pop star Britney Spears caused a stink when she took off her shoes on a flight from Los Angeles.

Spears and husband, Kevin Federline, were traveling to New York when she decided to get comfortable and go barefoot, the World Entertainment News Network said Friday.

Unfortunately, her feet smelled so awful, fellow passengers complained to the airline crew.

A source told WENN, "The smell was unbelievable. One woman had a word with the air hostess, then three or four others complained."

An embarrassed flight attendant tapped Spears on the shoulder and asked her to put her shoes back on.

"Britney went red, laughed and said her shoes made her feet stink," the source said. "Thankfully she put them on. There's no way we could have put up with that."

Chris Noth heads back to Law & Order

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Hollywood actor Chris Noth is heading back to NBC's "Law & Order" franchise in 2005, the World Entertainment News Network reported Friday.

Noth, who shot to fame as Mr. Big on HBO's "Sex & the City," spent five seasons on "Law & Order" as Detective Mike Logan.

This time, Noth will reprise Logan on the "Law & Order" spinoff, "Criminal Intent."

"Criminal Intent" star Vince D'Onofrio has suffered recurring health problems this season and a show insider told WENN bringing back Noth would "protect the show" in case D'Onofrio has to leave for any period of time.

Kidman drops out of 'Producers'

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman has dropped out of the film adaptation of the hit Mel Brooks musical, "The Producers."

Variety reports the actress felt she would not have enough time to rehearse the movie musical before beginning her next movie, "Eucalyptus."

No replacement has been named for Kidman, who was set to play Ulla, the buxom secretary originated on Broadway by Tony Award winner Cady Huffman.

"The Producers" is scheduled to begin filming in February with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick re-creating their Broadway roles.